The 2K Games Forums have a list of the changes in a new patch for XCOM: Enemy Unknown that's now available to update the newly released installment in the counter-UFO strategy series (thanks Scott). Here's word on what this does:

We wanted to let you know the details for the PC update for XCOM: Enemy Unknown that went live today (10/11/12). I've included the notes on this patch below:

Various visibility/hiding optimizations

Multiplayer text chat support (press J to activate)

Mouse button 4/5 will switch soldiers in the Barracks

ESC hides the movement grid, if you do not want to commit to a move while it is activated

Squad Sight ability optimization

Fixed issue when equipping two grenades with Deep Pockets.

Fixed Rapid Fire sometimes consuming too much ammo.

SHIVs that are damaged will no longer become unusable.

Fixed some hangs/soft crashes in tactical combat.

Replaced software cursor with the operating system cursor to reduce lag and framerate dependence.

Fixed rendering bug which causes some soldier’s hair to appear as if it is rendering on top of environment fog.

1080p movies are now used at all times on the PC.

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Prez wrote on Oct 11, 2012, 22:19:It seems that I keep trying to play like I used to play the original - basically going on missions indefinitely without researching the objective-specific items and I am being punished for it. I tried getting to the third or fourth month without even having built an Arc Thrower or Alien Containment yet and all of a sudden 6 countries pulled out at once!

I think you can do it, but at least get containment and arc thrower. I've been doing something similar, but I got those early since I knew capping live aliens is important

I also suggest getting a 2nd satellite and ship or 2 in another continent ASAP. Thats mostly how you increase money, by the sats. Which also means it works out ok only being able to have one base, since you can have interceptors and sats in each continent.

Yeah I figured out that you need to build satellites and uplinks and be able to defend them the hard way. Which means I am basically forgoing researching any soldier equipment in my current game. It sure is gonna suck when I start taking on Mutons and Cyberdiscs with standard XCOM equipment!

X-COM has always been a game I don't mind losing at. I'm on my sixth game now and don't expect to win it either... but boy am I having a blast!

More good stuff:

1. It looks like countries don't leave xcom funding until the end of the month, so if you have the opportunity, use your satellite before the end of the month.

2. You can't sell anything you build, so don't build more than you need. Seriously. When you assemble your squad to go on a mission, look at what they have/need. If you need an upgrade, buy it for them, but never buy ahead of time. There's no point.

3. Stacking up satellite facilities gives you a bonus satellite.

4. Workshops bring the cost of satellites down to 65 creds. Well worth it.

6. There will come a point in the game where you assault an enemy base. If it works, panic worldwide is eliminated. It's a big game-changer.

7. Aside from the plot interrogations, capping live beasties tends to give you 50% credit towards some tech or another. My first plasma research was done in like 4 days because of an interrogation.

8. Have I said how awesome squad sight is? It really is. If you can get your sniper into a good position he basically will mother hen the entire map. Escort missions usually become pieces of cake with him on overwatch, capping everything as it spawns. The only thing to worry about at that point is floaters, who can warp all over the map.

I'm assaulting my first large UFO right now and it's tense. I hate those goddamn chrysalids. Right now the main thing that saves me is the reaction ability that gives me a free reaction attack if an enemy gets within 4 squares of me.

One of the months I was playing I netted over a thousand credits, right around the time my sniper max'd out. I moseyed over and bought most of the Officer upgrades, including some really wicked ones that advance every new recruit to squaddie. They're still tissue paper, but at least they're *armed* tissue paper.